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Definitions

on-the-spot

[on-thuh-spot, awn-] / ˈɒn ðəˌspɒt, ˈɔn- /
ADJECTIVE
behind the eight ball
Synonyms
WEAK
in Dutch in a pickle in a tight spot in hot water on the hot seat out on a limb up the creek
ADJECTIVE
defenseless
Synonyms
STRONGEST
helpless unarmed unprotected
WEAK
caught endangered exposed hands tied in line of fire indefensible like a clay pigeon like a sitting duck naked on the line open out on limb pigeon poor unguarded up the creek weak wide open
Antonyms
WEAK
powerful strong
ADJECTIVE
exposed
Synonyms
STRONGEST
bare defined disclosed discovered naked resolved solved uncovered unprotected
STRONG
bared caught clear debunked denuded divulged exhibited manifest open peeled revealed shown stripped unmasked unsealed unveiled
WEAK
apparent brought to light dug up evident for show found out laid bare made manifest on display on view unconcealed unhidden unsheltered visible
Antonyms
STRONGEST
clothed hidden
STRONG
ambiguous blocked closed concealed obscure unclear vague
WEAK
guarded private protected safe secret sheltered shielded
ADJECTIVE
extemporaneous
Synonyms
WEAK
ad hoc ad-lib automatic autoschediastic by ear casual expedient extemporary extempore fake free immediate impromptu improv improvisatory improviso informal jamming made-up makeshift offhand on impulse snap spontaneous spur-of-the-moment toss off toss out unplanned unpremeditated unprepared unrehearsed unstudied winging it
Antonyms
WEAK
deliberate planned premeditated prepared rehearsed
ADJECTIVE
extemporaneous/extemporary
Synonyms
WEAK
ad hoc ad lib at first glance automatic by ear casual expedient extempore free immediate impromptu improv improvisatory improviso informal jamming made-up makeshift off the cuff off the top of head offhand on impulse snap spontaneous spur-of-the-moment taking for ride thought out loud tossed off tossed out unplanned unpremeditated unprepared unstudied winging it
Antonyms
WEAK
planned prepared read rehearsed written
ADJECTIVE
instant
Synonyms
STRONG
burning contemporary crying current fast imperative present pressing prompt quick
WEAK
clamant dire direct exigent existent extant importunate insistent instantaneous present-day split-second
Antonyms
STRONG
future old old-fashioned past slow tardy unimportant
WEAK
delayed eventual late later
ADJECTIVE
off-the-cuff
Synonyms
WEAK
ad hoc ad-lib automatic autoschediastic by ear casual expedient extemporary extempore fake free immediate impromptu improv improvisatory improvised improviso informal jamming made-up makeshift offhand on impulse snap spontaneous spur-of-the-moment toss off toss out unplanned unpremeditated unprepared unrehearsed unstudied winging it
ADJECTIVE
on call
Synonyms
WEAK
accessible at hand at one's beck and call at one's disposal at one's fingertip available handy night call on alert on deck prepared standing by within reach
ADJECTIVE
pregnable
Synonyms
WEAK
accessible assailable attackable defenseless exposed liable naked on the line out on a limb ready sensitive sitting duck sucker susceptible tender thin-skinned unguarded unprotected unsafe vincible weak wide open
ADJECTIVE
present
Synonyms
STRONG
attendant near ready there
WEAK
accounted for at hand available existent in attendance in view made the scene on board on deck on hand show up there with bells on within reach
Antonyms
WEAK
absent away distant far
ADJECTIVE
risky
Synonyms
STRONGEST
delicate dicey hazardous perilous precarious sensitive speculative treacherous tricky uncertain unhealthy unsafe unsound
WEAK
chancy endangered fraught with danger going for broke hairy hanging by a thread iffy insecure jeopardous long shot not a prayer off the deep end on slippery ground on thin ice out on a limb playing with fire rocky ticklish touch-and-go touchy venturesome wicked wide-open
Antonyms
STRONGEST
certain definite harmless healthy honest insensitive protected safe secure stable strong sure well
WEAK
assured
ADJECTIVE
snappy
Synonyms
WEAK
abrupt breakneck expeditious fleet harefooted hasty immediate instant quick rapid speedy sudden swift unpremeditated
Antonyms
WEAK
delayed slow sluggish
ADJECTIVE
split second
Synonyms
STRONG
fast instant quick quick-fire rapid speedy
ADJECTIVE
spur-of-the-moment
Synonyms
WEAK
ad hoc ad-lib automatic autoschediastic by ear casual expedient extemporary extempore fake free immediate impromptu improv improvisatory improvised improviso informal jamming made-up makeshift offhand on impulse snap spontaneous toss off toss out unplanned unpremeditated unprepared unrehearsed unstudied winging it
ADJECTIVE
vincible
Synonyms
WEAK
accessible assailable attackable defenseless exposed liable naked on the line out on a limb pregnable ready sensitive sitting duck sucker susceptible tender thin-skinned unguarded unprotected unsafe weak wide open
ADJECTIVE
vulnerable
Synonyms
STRONGEST
accessible defenseless exposed liable ready sensitive susceptible unsafe weak
WEAK
assailable naked on the line out on a limb sitting duck sucker tender thin-skinned unguarded unprotected wide open
Antonyms
STRONGEST
guarded protected safe secure strong unsusceptible
WEAK
closed
ADVERB
here
Synonyms
STRONG
attendant attending hither present
WEAK
available hereabouts hitherto in this direction on board on deck on hand on the spot within reach
Antonyms
WEAK
there
ADVERB
immediately
Synonyms
STRONGEST
directly forthwith instantly promptly rapidly shortly soon urgently
STRONG
now
WEAK
PDQ anon at short notice away double-time hereupon in a New York minute in a flash in a jiffy in nothing flat instantaneously instanter like now now or never on the dot on the double on the spot pronto right now soon afterward straight away straight off summarily thereupon this instant this minute tout de suite unhesitatingly without delay without hesitation
Antonyms
STRONGEST
later
WEAK
eventually never
ADVERB
out on a limb
Synonyms
WEAK
chancy dangerous exposed liable on the spot open perilous precarious risky shaky up a tree
ADVERB
summarily
Synonyms
STRONGEST
arbitrarily forthwith promptly swiftly
WEAK
at short notice expeditiously immediately on the spot peremptorily readily speedily without waste
Antonyms
WEAK
slowly
NOUN
jeopardy
Synonyms
STRONGEST
peril
STRONG
accident chance endangerment exposure hazard insecurity liability precariousness risk venture vulnerability
WEAK
double trouble on the line on the spot out on a limb
Antonyms
STRONG
assurance certainty safety surety
WEAK
protection

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Most of all, I’d leave room in the itinerary for on-the-spot finds.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 25, 2026

Liu practiced in the dress and McKinnon was able to make on-the-spot adjustments.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 18, 2026

So, in terms of stress, watching baby animals playing is the opposite of a surprise job interview or an on-the-spot subtraction task.

From BBC • Oct. 12, 2025

They could search for injured and trapped people in an earthquake or a collapsed building, for example, and apply on-the-spot care, such as administering CPR.

From Science Daily • May 3, 2024

Rather, he was something of a poet, an inventor of on-the-spot ballads called corridos, and at one time he had been able to read and write in both English and Spanish.

From "The Milagro Beanfield War" by John Nichols